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Ibanez ATK Vs SR

V

Vice Animus

Jun 23, 2011
4
0
#1
Hey there. After playing bass for just over a year now using a cheap fender p-bass rip-off, I've been looking to buy a better quality instrument. I recently joined a hard-rock / grunge / punk band and we're signing up for various small local gigs. I need a worthy, good quality and sturdy / reliable instrument to keep me going.

The two basses that have caught my eye are the Ibanez ATK200 and the SR300. I play with a pick and love to get a full vibrant tone full of violent attack and punch, which would seem to point towards the ATK, but the sleek thin neck of the SR is side-tracking me an awful lot.

Which one of these instruments would you consider to be better quality, and why? Since the prices are fairly similar, price is no object :) Cheers :bassist:
 
#2
I'd go with the ATK for the music you are playing. Not that the SR couldn't be effective in those genres, but I think the ATK basses are just a better fit for punk and grunge. More aggressive vs. smooth and modern for the SR series in general.

Plus the ATK looks more at home in a rock/punk/grunge setting.

If possible, play both and see which one feels right in your hands.
 
#3
I think the ATK would suit you better; you can always find a nicer used SR with a P/J setup that would be better for hard-rock/punk than the current SR offerings. I've seen them on my CL for $120, incredible instrument for the price. Used SRs are easy to come by just because there's so many. I have one of each and like them both for different purposes.
 
#4
I've always been a fan of the SR series. I'm not wholly familiar with the 300 series, but I do play a SR-500 as my main bass, SRs have really good sustian for the low end and a pretty bright high end.

Of course, there's only one way to know, plug them both in and play. You can listen to differing opinions all day, you'll never know until you check them out for yourself.
 
#7
Ibanez quality is pretty good even on the lower priced stuff; I've never had a bad one. I'd pick the SR because of the neck, weight, sound, and looks, but that's my pref.
If "price is no object" check out the SR500 series and up having the bart system w/3band EQ. Bright highs, and deep lows.
 
#9
I own an ATK-300 and an SR-300 and I cant come down on one or the other, however, I strongly suggest playing both first if remotely possible.
As a owner of various SRs for 20 years I recently bought an ATK without playing one first (I know, I know) based on the reviews I read with the logic "hey, its an Ibanez, I love Ibanez" and my poor arthritic hands were shocked when I got a hold of that big hunk-o-neck. It sounds killer, one of my favorite sounding basses I've ever owned, but rarely play due to the neck not getting along with my hands.
Not in any way a knock on the ATK, just it has a neck thats not to my tastes that had I tried it first I would not have bought.
 
#10
ATKs are amazing. I went into my favourite music store on the weekend with my heart pretty much set on buying a Schecter Stiletto, but this baby caught my eye and after playing it for a few seconds I very quickly fell in love with the tone. The one they had in stock was in the natural finish, which looks very nice but I preferred the black finish so I'm having one specially ordered. :) But yeah it's really something else, it sounds like it'd have no trouble cutting through any mix like butter - and the wait is killing me!
 
#13
Owning an ATK750, SR400, and SR506, I would say the feel of the neck should be your basis for comparison, as both can sound mean and aggressive and both have versatile preamps. The SR400 with P-J's has a unique tone all its own, the SR506 has Bartolini humbuckers that can be dialed in to my favorite bass tone of all time, and the ATK has a Stingray sort of vibe that kills in rock settings. All good basses, but feel vastly different. The ATK's body feels huge compared to an SR, neck too.
 
#14
BackToTheGroove said:
Find an ATK 300 over the 200. I played a 200 in my local store. I own and love the ATK750KA. These two ATK felt like different instruments all together. The 200 was sort of dinky IMHO. Just my 2¢.
Click to expand...

yeah the new ATKs have a smaller body to bring down the weight. I'm not sure if the neck is different or not. The new headstock is also pretty blaw.
 
#15
As others have said: I think you should go with the ATK. For the style of music you're playing it's the better choice. The build quality of the two iunstruments will be the same.

Consider the SR if you think you may branch off into blues, R&B, jazz; styles of music where having a neck pickup is advantageous.
 

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